Riverside gangs spark safety fears in Flintshire

Cyclists and walkers say they feel intimidated by gangs of drunks and youths gathering down by the River Dee's coastal path

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Cyclists and walkers say they feel threatened and intimidated by gangs of drunks and youths congregating along the banks of the River Dee.

People have reported being stopped by groups asking for money and phones all along the river from Blacon and Saughall down to Garden City and Connah’s Quay.

Sarah Lyke, 44, of Ewloe, has been approached twice over the past few weeks and says she no longer feels safe cycling alone.

She has been cycling along the path from Shotton every week for the last five years.

She said: “I’ve had to promise my family and friends I won’t go down there alone.

“I took my son with me last Thursday evening and we were stopped by some kids who were asking to use our phone. When we tried to pass them they wouldn’t move out of the way.

“I’m not a nervous person but it actually frightened me.

“On Bank Holiday Monday I went on my own and just before I got to Saughall I came to a group of kids with three puppy dogs.

“There was about six of them, all around 15/16 years old.

“One of them stuck his hand out in front of me and asked for spare change.

“I wasn’t going to stop and kept cycling, hoping he would move.

“There’s nothing around there, its just fields. Its very intimidating.”

“Two of my friends were also stopped near Connah’s Quay by a gang of drunks.

“On another occasion there was a guy just passed out face down in the grass. Its not nice and I certainly won’t be going down there alone again.”

Sarah says police need to up their presence along the river.

She added: “At the moment they’re doing whatever they want and getting away with it.

“Hopefully seeing a police officer down there will make them think twice.

“Its sad as it will put people off using the path and its a fantastic thing to have on your doorstep.

“I worry for girls running alone with headphones in. Anything could happen to them and there’s no one around to help.”

Cllr Helen Brown said: “I’m not going to be going down there any more, no way, its just not safe.

“People – lone women – are being approached by gangs of drunks and youths asking for money or to use their phone.”

She added: “The police need to be down there, they need to show their face.”

Cllr Brown is now worried that people will be put off using the route.

She added: “Lots of people use the route and its a shame its come to this.

“People are scared. They should feel safe, its a cycle path!

“They’re worried in case something more sinister happens as its secluded.”

Inspector Ceri Hawe commented: “The area is on our patrol plan, PCSOs are patrolling the location on police bikes and on foot.

“In order for us to correctly patrol and address the concerns, we encourage anyone who has concerns or witnesses anti-social or criminal behaviour to contact the police on 101 so we can pinpoint the exact locations and times these incidents are occurring and deal with them.”